Chatper 7: A Choice To Be Made
Sakura woke up around ten o'clock, alone. Earlier that morning, Sasuke had left for a long term mission. Unfortunately, it couldn't be helped. His particular skills were needed for this ANBU level mission. The length was still unknown. He could be gone for a week or possibly up to a few months. And Kami did Sakura hope that that wouldn't be the case this time.
The moment she rolled out of bed, she ran to the bathroom and threw up all contents of her stomach. She truly did hate morning sickness. She got up and cleaned herself up before heading out towards the Hokage tower. Sakura really didn't feel well today, but she had to tell Tsunade the news before Ino let it slip.
Walking through the village, Sakura couldn't help but notice women giving her small smiles and men looking a bit put out whenever they saw her. She tried her hardest to push the possibility that somehow they knew about her pregnancy, but the closer she got to the tower, the more it was becoming blatantly apparent that they all new.
She was going to kill Ino the next time she sees the blond.
Sakura walked up the winding stairs, stood in front of the Hokage's office door, and tool a deep breath before knocking.
"Come in," a voice called.
Sakura entered the office, closing the door behind herself.
"Ah, Sakura. I wasn't expecting you. Don't you have the day off?" Tsunade answered from behind her stack of unfinished papers.
"Yea, but I wanted to talk to you about something," Sakura said nervously, sitting in a chair across from her mentor.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow, "Talk to me about what?"
Sakura sighed, "I'm just going to come out and say it… I'm pregnant."
Tsunade stared at the nervous young medic for a moment before giving a saucy grin, "It's about damn time you decided to tell me."
"You knew," Sakura said as a statement, not a question.
"Of course."
"How, Ino?!" Sakura asked, now enraged.
"Sakura, I thing your forgetting who your dealing with here. I can detect an early pregnancy a mile away," he blond older woman answered.
"Why didn't you tell me you knew?"
"I was waiting for you to tell me on your own accord…" Tsunade smiled. "So, is it the Uchiha brats?"
Sakura sighed at the old nickname and simply nodded.
"Well, the counsel will be pleased to hear about your pregnancy. They were all afraid Sasuke was something of an asexual and would never produce and heir. They were afraid the sharingan would be lost to Konoha after he passes."
"That's pretty selfish," Sakura said, attempting to control her anger.
"Yeah well, they're all a bunch of old, selfish clan leaders. The sharingan is only a weapon to them. A strong weapon at that, and Konoha cant risk looking that particular kekkei genkai." she explained.
"My child will not be a weapon," Sakura growled.
"I know this Sakura."
There was a long pause before Tsunade stood up and walked around her desk, "Lets get you a check up then."
"What? No, I'm fine. I'm a capable medic shishou. I've been giving myself regular check ups," Sakura panicked.
Tsunade stopped in her tracks and gave her apprentice an even look, "There's no need to hide it from me Sakura," she said in a serious, low voice.
"What?"
"Don't play dumb. Your ill," Tsunade said, ignoring Sakura's gasp. "That's why you've been refusing check ups and has had that horrible cough and night sweats. Once again Sakura, I thing you've forgotten who your dealing with. But I've sat around long enough expecting you to find a cure and heal yourself. I'm don't watching. I'm going to help you now. You need to become healthy now more than ever. For the baby's sake at the very least."
Sakura's head was bent, bangs shadowing her eyes form view, "There is no cure," she whispered. "You don't think I've tried everything? Nothing works. I've read through dozens of medical books and scrolls, hoping to find the answer, but there is none. It's impossible."
Tsunade placed a hand on her students shoulder, "Don't lose hope just yet Sakura. Now follow me to the hospital."
Once the two medics arrived, Tsunade sent Sakura to a room and had her lie down on one of the beds. The blond stood over her with a glowing green hand on top of the slightly protruding midriff.
"Does Sasuke know?" the older woman asked.
"About the baby?"
"No, about your illness."
"…Yes. I told him before we… But he was quite determined to make me the mother of his child."
Tsunade frowned, "He knew you were ill, but he still impregnated you…? Do either one of you know the repercussions of what that little bastard has done to you? Sakura, its either you or the child," Tsunade whispered, silent tears falling down her cheeks. "Don't be selfless Sakura. Don't make a rash decision."
"Shishou, I already know," Sakura said gently. "And I'm already working on my decision."
Tsunade heaved a deep sigh, "Tell me all of your symptoms."
"Coughing for a long period of time, coughing up blood, night sweats, chest pain, chills, loss of appetite, and I'm easily fatigued, and this is all before and after I became pregnant," she finished.
"Alright then. I'll look into it to see what I can do for you," Tsunade said with confidence, though it didn't show through her eyes.
Sakura saw this, "Tsunade-"
"No, I told you, I'm not going to sit around anymore. Its not useless!" Tsunade said desperately, wanting so much to believe what she was saying, but knew better. She felt it herself during the examination. Sakura's illness was almost untraceable. The only thing they knew for sure was that its somewhere near her lungs and heart.
Sakura sat up, "Thank you shishou."
She hopped off the bed and made her way to the door before stopping and turning back to the weary blond, "Could you keep this between the two of us?"
There was a ghost of a smile on Tsunade's face, "And by that you mean, not to speak a word about it to Naruto?"
Sakura nodded, "It would break his heart if he found out. Then he would end up hating Sasuke and pitying my. That's the last thing I would eve want."
"I'll not speak a word about it. I understand," Tsunade whispered.
"Thank you," Sakura also whispered before leaving the grief stricken Hokage alone in the room.
Tsunade watched her apprentice walk out of the room and felt he heart ach. She knew, just as well as Sakura did, what her fate was going to be. Sakura had a choice. Herself or the baby. And Sakura would never kill an innocent life, simply to save her own, especially if that innocent life is her own child's. No, Sakura had made up her mind, and as she said before, was working on it. As Tsunade let her chakra run through Sakura's system, she was overwhelmingly aware that all of the young medics healing chakra was swirling around the young fetus, protecting it from any harm whatsoever.
Sakura has made her decision.
Sasuke walked back through the gates, hands deep in pockets and mind deep in thought. That had been a problem today on his mission. His mind tended to wander to a certain pink haired medic and not paying attention to his opponent. He almost got himself cut because of his detachment.
He subconsciously fingered the small box in his right pocket. Inside the box was a small silver ring with a pink stone. Sakura's engagement ring. Sasuke saw it two days ago in a shop window while he was on a mission. The ring caught his eye immediately. Now all he needed to do was ask her.
Sakura….
The epitome of his confusion. Sasuke knew he felt strongly for her and he would always protect her, but he also knew it wasn't love. He was incapable of love. Yes, he adored and cared for Sakura, but it was not what she wanted or expected of him. She now carries his child, so she will always hold a special place in his heart. The only thing that truly bothered him was what would happen if she said yes to his proposal. During some point in their marriage she would say 'I love you' and what would he say back? Sasuke wasn't going to lie to her and speak empty words. He simply refused. Those words were hollow to him.
Now he started wondering if impregnating her was such a good idea.
That just started a whole new set of problems in itself. Sakura and her illness. It truly is breaking Sasuke's heart knowing that he may have just marked his lover for death. The one person who was closest to understanding him. The one person he was terrified of losing, he may have practically killed. And it was driving him insane, thinking about who he would rather have live. Sakura, or his child? It was tearing him apart. Constantly making himself feel guilty for choosing one over the other even for just a second. Just the thought makes him sick.
Sasuke shook his head, ridding himself of his guilty conscience. It was already near dust and Sakura would be waiting for him. He picked up his pace and made his way to Sakura's apartment. Without knocking, he walked right in her front door to find an empty living room. Sasuke quickly searched the apartment for any chakra signatures and immediately found Sakura's in the bathroom, though it was weak.
He walked quickly to the bathroom to check to see if she was alright, trying to fight down the growing panic in the pit of his stomach. When he opened the door, he found Sakura passed out in the tub, her head barely above water. Sasuke rushed over and pulled her naked body out of the cold water and carried her to her bed. He wrapped her trembling body in the blankets and checked her pulse. It was faint.
"Sakura…" he whispered desperately, trying to wake her up.
Her eyes fluttered open for a second before squeezing shut a particularly violent coughing fit wracked her lungs, causing blood to splatter down both her and Sasuke's front. Sasuke lifted her up quickly into a sitting position so she wouldn't chock on the red liquid. Once she stopped and her breathing was stead again, he lifted her in his arms and sped to the hospital, panic rushing through him like wild fire. He was scared. No, he was terrified! And Uchiha Sasuke is never terrified.
Sasuke burst though the hospital doors, "Get Tsunade, now!"
"Sakura! What happened?!" a worried voice asked from behind.
"Shizune-san, I need Tsunade," he replied, ignoring her earlier question.
"Sasuke! What's going on here?" Tsunade burst though a set of doors. She stopped when she spotted Sakura in Sasuke's arms. She turned and yelled over her shoulder, "Follow me Uchiha!"
Sasuke followed the Hokage to a small room and placed Sakura on the bed. Tsunade unwrapped her apprentice, revealing her naked form and placed a glowing green hand on her chest. Neither said a word all though the healing process. Only when Sasuke tucked Sakura under the dry, clean hospital sheets did Tsunade finally speak up.
"What happened Sasuke?" she asked in a stern voice.
Without taking his eyes off Sakura, he told her how he had found her.
Tsunade frowned, "She passed out in the tub…" she whispered, thinking to herself.
"…Is she alright?" Sasuke asked quietly.
"It's hard to say…but for the most part, yes."
"And the baby?"
"Healthy as any other child its age, which I find quite odd," Tsunade answered with a frown.
"You find it odd that my child is healthy?" Sasuke asked with a scowl.
"Well…with Sakura in the condition she's in now, the baby should be no better off. To tell you the honest blunt truth, I expected the child to be severely struggling for life, or dead by now. But instead I find a perfectly healthy child. It doesn't make any since. A child is only as strong as its mother, and Sakura is struggling," the Hokage explained.
Something deep within Sasuke knew what this meant. He knew the truth within the joyful revelation that his unborn child was healthy. He knew this, and it hurt. The guilt crept into the pit of his stomach where it had taken residence for the past few months and was unmerciful. He had sealed Sakura's fait. He made her have to choose, a chance at her own life, or her unborn child's. The child was healthy. Sakura had chosen.
Sasuke turned away and walked to the door.
"Where the hell do you think your going?" Tsunade called.
"I need some air."
The stoic Uchiha closed the door with a defiant snap and made his way though the hospital corridors, going wherever his feet took him. He was completely impassive. No emotion could be found on his features. No emotion could be found in his heart. Emotions make you weak. Emotions weigh you down.
Emotions make your hurt…
Naruto sat in the waiting room along with the rest of the rookie nine (and Team Gai) who weren't on a mission. News of Sakura's admittance to the hospital spread throughout the village quickly. Naruto had run into a brooding Sasuke in the street and demanded what had his panties in a bunch. Sasuke only got as far as 'Sakura's in the hospital' before he felt a fist connect with his cheek.
"Well then why the hell aren't you there with her?! Damn it Teme sometimes you can be thicker than me!" the blond had yelled before running off in the direction of the hospital.
Now here he sat, stomach tied up in knots, not able to see his friend. Tsunade baachan wouldn't allow any visitors, not even Sasuke. Everyone seemed to pick up on the grave look on the Uchiha's face and immediately assumed there was something more to what they were told. Everyone felt a nervous clench in their stomachs. They all thought it had something to do with the Uchiha child growing inside her.
"Sasuke…" Naruto called in a small voice, breaking the silence and causing everyone to look up.
Chlorine blue eyes met crimson, "What is she hiding?"
"If she were hiding something from you Naruto and if I knew, it wouldn't be my place to tell you," Sasuke answered monotonously. It were as if he had gone back to the twelve year old emotionally crippled, brooding boy he used to be. He had taken an emotional step backwards.
Naruto didn't take his answer well at all. The Jinchuriki leaped from his seat, hand shaking at his sides, glaring at the Uchiha, "Don't you dare hide something like this from me Sasuke. I love Sakura. She's my sister. I have every fucking right to know if there was something wrong with her!"
"N-Naruto-kun…please, this isn't the place to b-be arguing…" Hinata said from the seat next to him.
Naruto looked over at the silver eyed kunoichi and his eyes softened, "Neh Hinata-chan, I just want the Teme to-"
Naruto was cut short by Tsunade's entrence into the waiting room.
"How is she?!" Ino asked.
Tsunade sighed, "She'll be…fine. She just needs some rest. Sasuke, I need a word with you."
With that, the Hokage turned to leave, Sasuke right on her heals.
Tsunade took him into her office and sat down with a sigh, "I understand now."
Sasuke looked at her in question.
"Why the child is so healthy…I know why…"
"She's protection him, isn't she," Sasuke said, more of a statement than a question.
"Yes. She's been circulating healing chakra around the child from the moment she found out. That's the reason she passed out today. She simply exhausted all of her chakra. I've created special healing chakra tags to place on her stomach to continue her wish of protecting the child. This should be almost as effective as her own chakra," Tsunade said this with a pained look in her eyes and a cracked voice.
"Will she have a chance….?" Sasuke asked in barely a whisper, eyes set firmly on the ground, not wanting to see the answer and pain in the Hokage's eyes.
"…With me here, she'll always have a fighting chance, but I cant guarantee anything. I'll give my heart and soul to save that girl. I wont stop…"
Kakashi had always taught to look at things underneath the underneath…and now, at this very moment, Sasuke wished he were still ignorant to this way of thinking and reading into things. For if he were, he would have taken the Hokage's strong words for what they were, and wouldn't have heard what was really meant under it all. What she really didn't want to say. And what he really didn't want to hear.
A/N: Okay i'm soo sorry for the sucky updating-ness. To be completely honest with you guys, i'm just not that into this story anymore. Buuut im finishing it just for those of you who really seem to like it (because i know i hate it when i like a fic and then it gets discontinued)... So, there may be one or two chapters left, and i cant promise they'll be long. well, maybe the last one will be :)
BECAUSE THATS WHOLE PROBLEM I HAD WITH THIS STORY! I thought up the ending first and then i had to figure out a plot to get to it! Dont do it, it doesnt work out....
Anyways, REVIEWS WOULD BE WONDERFUL! They make me want to write :D
Thanks you guys for sticking with me and putting up with my horribel procrastination problems!